Bartlett, I. Chapin. Letter to parents (November 7, 1858)

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Science Hill Sunday
Nov. 7th 1858

Dear Parents Aunt & Sisters

Although it is but a week today since I arrived here, yet it seems to me to have been 3 months since I left home. I know not how it happens for I have enjoyed myself very much and have had enough to do to keep me busy. I tell you I studied like "Sixty" all last week not requiring it all to keep up with the class but just to be busy. Well after standing a great many fits of electioneering from the members of the different societies, I Friday night joined my lot with the Chamberlains, the oldest and largest one in the college. They took in 11 members the first meeting. The Atheneum & the Deinologian nine on account of which they are very much disheartened. The reason I joined the first night was because I thought it would be best to join with them in the beginning and the earlier the start, the sooner I would become used to them. I cannot say that I heard any good speeches and none

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to which I would feared to have replied, if I had not been a newcomer and did not like to be too forward. The Seniors mostly spoke. The subject was, was the execution of Charles the First justifiable? I received the money you sent regularly Friday evening. Will pay my tuition tomorrow. Heard a sermon by Doctor Green this morning, which was a very fine one. I yesterday morning [unclear: went?] into the parlor where Miss Julia G. [Green] was playing and on request I helped her sing "Gentle Annie" which I think we performed elegantly. Soon we had Mrs. Green the Doctor and all the boys in, and they were so delighted that they kept us singing different pieces all morning. Mrs. Green wants us to sing some sacred music this evening which I have promised to do. You put a wrong representation on that buggy ride I wrote to you about. The family went up to Sunday school in the buggy, and when it came back Jordan proposed to drive us up to church, which he did and consequently we had a ride, didn't we?

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Mrs. Green has bought her a pair of beautiful grey horses and a fine hack and with Jordan driving you may imagine it looks [unclear: stylish?]. We sometimes ride on invitation. Why didn't Ma, Aunt Mary, Sis and Nan write? I would like to get a letter every day although I cannot return the compliment. Tell [illegible word] and [illegible word] they must learn how to write and do the same. Send me the Observer, Times, etc. frequently. I yesterday had a visit from Tom Picket and Fleming Farris, both of them rooming together. As we do not visit the boys rooms any we of course do not have any in return, which we try to avoid. In our hours of recreation we enjoy ourselves in playin ball on the "Campus" or the college green as you would call it. It is a beautiful grassy place, and also very large, and the best of it is we have just to climb the yard fence or go through the gate and we are in it. Just after dinner Miss Julia, Mrs. Green, and Doctor and us six students get out in the yard and play fox and geese. A very amazing game in which we all take great interest.

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It would do you good to see them run the doctor especially, if every thing does not go on to suit him in the game, he immediately "kicks up a fuss," and makes us play his way. Our room has (thank Fortune) got the name in the house of being the students room, and the boys never interrupt us in our study hours but when those are over and our time for chatting has come, then we get in one of our rooms, and have a very social time. All the boarder here but one besides myself and Hunter are members of the church, and of course very good boys. But I believe I am through for this time. Don't forget what I said about writing to me all of you.

Yours etc.
[I.C. Bartlett crossed out]